Under-22s in England should be given free bus travel to improve access to work and training and encourage long-term public transport use, MPs have urged, as part of a wider plan to reverse a steep decline in bus usage.
A Commons transport committee report recommends extending the English national concessionary travel scheme — which currently provides free travel for pensioners and some disabled people — to all under-22s, with a pilot scheme to test the approach.
The cross-party committee said passenger numbers in England have fallen by 20% since 2009, while the number of routes outside cities has dropped 18% since the Covid pandemic. It cited evidence that more than half of small towns are now “transport deserts” for those without cars.
The MPs welcomed plans to devolve powers over bus services to local transport authorities but said this alone would not solve problems in smaller towns and rural areas, warning that many would struggle to make significant improvements without extra support.
The report calls for:
• Minimum service levels across all local transport authority areas by the end of this parliament, backed by guaranteed long-term funding and multiyear budgets.
• A rural weighting in bus funding allocations to reflect higher operating costs in sparsely populated areas.
• Minimum standards for bus stops, including real-time service information.
• A national policy for buses in England within 18 months, setting out a clear vision for what a successful network should deliver.
Committee members said ministers should use the measures to help address connectivity gaps, improve integration, and make journeys more affordable.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “After decades of decline, we’re providing a record £1bn in multi-year funding to improve the reliability and frequency of bus services across the country.
“Our landmark bus services bill will protect routes and prevent services from being scrapped, bringing buses back into local control, and will put passengers at the heart of services. We have also stepped in to prevent a fare hike for passengers by extending the £3 fare cap until March 2027.”
